Reader Feature — Kat Fukui
What led you to BTS?
I have my multistan partner to blame for showing me BTS’ videos in 2018. My very first exposure was a live performance of Anpanman, and their playfulness had us hooked immediately (well, mostly me). Definitely surprised me since I don’t listen to pop music at all, and hadn’t listened to much k-pop or k-rap since the 2nd wave days (Epik High, SHINee, Super Junior, 2PM, etc). It was easy to fall in love with their wide range of music and vibes as an alternative R&B listener. And of course, their messages and visuals!!!
Credit: Mnet
I’d say I was still a baby ARMY until the pandemic, where I’m sure many of us spiraled even deeper into the Bangtanverse. After the cancelled MOTS tour, I was so grateful to have seen them live for the first time during PTD on stage D1 + D2. Even though Hobi will forever be my ult, I’m honestly OT7 after seeing how unreal they are as performers and humans on stage. Plus, they’re all on IG now?? What a time to be alive.
Some of my most listened to tracks are HOME, All Night (underrated!!), Boy With Luv, and 134340. 💜
Who or what sparked your interest in tarot?
I was in a really Tower time of my life in 2020, as I’m sure many of us can relate to. Saturn went direct for me three times that year. The first time occurred right when I started talk therapy. The second happened in the heat of traumatic workplace events that eventually led me to quit my dayjob in early 2021. A big slice of my identity was based on the work I was performing for points in a scarcity-driven environment.
With my anxiety spiking at an all-time high, I needed a way to slow down, get deeply present, and embody some High Priestess energy. In my witchy studies, I ordered my first tarot deck: Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani. It unfortunately ended up taking 3 months to be delivered by a local, closing bookstore lol.
But in parallel, my close friend Vivian was also starting to read tarot, and did a birthday reading for me (hi Virgo suns!). I’m so glad this was my first intro into tarot—This reading made such a huge impact on me, and each archetype unraveled at some point during my 29th year. I distinctly remember the Queen of Swords reminding me of my resilience while I found my seat of power. I felt closely seen, held, and encouraged. I bought another deck so I could get started asap—Pagan Otherworlds by Uusi, which is the deck I still have the most intimacy with. I started @softwitchclub in October 2020 to document my journey, and have been obsessively learning tarot, astrology, and other modalities ever since!
What has the biggest challenge been on this project so far?
I’m working on the Cups with the amazing artist, Kat (@cutiesexylonely), and tapping into the energy of this water-y suit has been quite the journey for us! Connecting with the Cups hasn’t come easy to me in my practice so far, and tends to bring up a lot of inner child work phew. I’ve been sitting with each card and practicing opening myself up vulnerability and emotional honesty. Seven, Eight, Queen, and King of Cups have been showing up in my personal spreads lately… it’s A LOT.
To provide guidance, I’ve been looking to The Moon for its soupy wisdom. It’s been challenging to surrender to whatever bubbles over, but I’m thankful that this project is pushing me to confront the Cups!
What is your favorite card and why?
Hmm, I bounce between different teachers often, but I think my favorite has to be The Star. It’s one of my personal tarot constellation cards, and one that comes up for me when I’m looking in the wrong places for future guidance + not listening to my intuition.
And being a forever Hobi bias, I really associate him with The Star—it’s a card of leading with optimism and hope. This isn’t hope produced from naivety, but rather from being aligned with your authentic truth and following through. The Star also astrologically corresponds to Aquarius, Hobi’s sun sign. (I highly recommend reading Alice Sparkly Kat’s recent chart analysis of Hobi!)
Credit: @uarmyhope
I lol’d seeing Hobi’s grid, with the cut-off “I’m your hope.” It’s very him—super aesthetic, but still makes you laugh with something unexpected. He doesn’t delete his mistakes. You get the feeling that you too can bare soft parts of yourself without burning out.
